File formats for processing and export

RAW files are not intended as final files for output. They must be converted and processed into recognized image file formats such as JPEG, TIFF, and PSD. You can specify the new file format to create while exporting your files. Capture One never alters the source files during processing, it creates copies and saves them as a new file format instead.

When there is a need to share RAW files and associated settings and metadata, we recommend exporting the original in a package as an EIP file (choose File -> Export Images -> Originals -> Options -> Pack as EIP). All the necessary files are placed in the package.

These are the file formats that you can choose during export:

• JPEG - Creates a new 8-bit file with lossy compression to attain a smaller sized file (e.g., compared to a TIFF) for convenience. The Quality setting determines the amount of compression applied and the file size. The lower the quality, the smaller the file and the greater the loss of information. JPEG compression also adds some noise to an image.
  
  
• JPEG QuickProof - This setting creates images for evaluation purposes. Capture One creates the image file from the settings files without additional calculations or filters. JPEG QuickProof should not be considered as a final file for distribution - it is ideal for ultra-quick evaluation purposes only.
  
  
• JPEG XR (extended range) - This format supports higher compression ratios with equivalent quality to the original JPEG format. It is fully compatible with Capture One from version 7 onwards and certain Microsoft products. 
  
  
• JPEG 2000 - Offers superior compression and handling of color space profiles. It is available in either 8-or 16-bit color depth. 
  
  
• TIFF - Preserves maximum quality. TIFF is a lossless format. Selecting TIFF enables the option of 16-bit output for higher color accuracy and optimum quality.
  • Options:
    • TIFF files can additionally be compressed: both LZW and ZIP compression options are lossless. 
    • No Thumbnail - Enable to remove a system-level thumbnail and further reduce file size.
    • Tile Dimensions - Not Tiled (default). Tiles allow efficient compression and decompression of large high-resolution images (typically excessing 60MP). As only the image data required for display is decompressed, tiling can improve the browsing experience once processed to a full-size TIFF file.
      
      
• DNG - Creates a new lossless RAW file based on the Digital Negative specification. There are no options available to modify the format. Adjustments and metadata added to the image are typically not retained.
  
  
• PNG - This option supports lossless data compression and is suitable for distribution, however, while PNG offers good compatibility with web-browsers, file sizes are usually larger than JPEG. Consider that it would not be possible to process/export transparent PNG files in Capture One.
  
  
• PSD - Ensures optimum quality and compatibility with Adobe Photoshop and is ideally suitable for working with layers. Available with 8-or 16-bit depth color option. 
  NOTE: PSD export is not available in Capture One Express. 

NOTE: JPEG2000 and JPEG XR are no longer supported in Capture One 21 (14.2.0) and forward. Users will no longer be able to view, edit, or export to these formats. Existing Process Recipes using these formats have been automatically migrated to uncompressed 16-bit TIFF instead. This avoids any unwanted loss of quality.

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